Skip to product information
1 of 2
Earn 10% Alto Bucks

Prism Sound ADA-8XR (8-A/D, 8-D/A w/F/W)

Prism Sound ADA-8XR (8-A/D, 8-D/A w/F/W)

On order with the manufacturer!

View full details
  • Details
  • Features
  • Tech Specs
  • Reviews

TheADA-8XRis a multi-channel AD/DA converter that can be configured in numerous ways using plug-in modules to suit a very wide variety of applications. It can be a 16 channel AD converter, a 16 Channel DA converter or an 8 channel AD/DA converter. It can be a multi-channel FireWire interface, or an AES/EBU / AES3 / SPDIF Digital to Analogue or Analogue to Digital converter. It can act as a high resolution Pro Tools Interface for recording or post-production. Similarly it can work with a wide range of other popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) including Logic, Cubase, Nuendo and others. In fact, there's not a lot it can't do when it comes to digital audio conversion.

Applications

TheADA-8XRis the top professionals' converter of choice in the most exacting applications in music and sound recording, mastering, broadcast and post-production. Offering the cleanest and most transparent conversion available, theADA-8XRis ideal for producers, engineers and songwriters wanting to produce top-quality results when recording, tracking & overdubbing, mixing to stereo or surround, mastering and monitoring. TheADA-8XRis perfect for recording vocal, single instruments, drums or orchestra and is just as much at home providing multiple outputs for external analogue summing. It is in use in the top studios around the world as well as being used in numerous film sound tracks.

Design Philosophy

TheADA-8XRtakes the philosophy of the widely-acclaimed Prism Sound converter range a stage further: Now, the goals of ultimate sound quality, unbeatable performance and un-matched versatility have been realised in a modular multi-channel, 24-bit 192kHz-capable format. TheADA-8XRprovides A/D and D/A conversion and the essential digital interfaces with a stereo monitor mix output in digital and analogue formats.

Clocking And Synchronization

Unlike most other converter systems, theADA-8XRis ideal as a master clock for your entire system, whether running from its precision internal reference or from an external source. No external clock source can improve the performance or influence the sound of theADA-8XR. In addition, theADA-8XRcan run in Pro Tools Loop Sync mode, or lock to AES3, AES11 or Wordclock. TheADA-8XRdelivers your recordings with perfect transparency, whatever the setup.

Configuration Options

TheADA-8XRis a modular system and this provides great flexibility when creating systems with larger numbers of channels. Whether you need just a few channels of high-quality conversion or large a multi-track setup, theADA-8XRis the natural choice. Using combinations of the basic system options and the range of digital interfaces you can build the system that perfectly matches your requirements. For more detail see the ADA-8XRConfigurations section.

More Information
Product Name Prism Sound ADA-8XR (8-A/D, 8-D/A w/F/W)
Brand Prism Sound
Condition New
MPN ADA-8XR-FW
Shipping Option Free Shipping to the Continental U.S.

Channel Configurations

  • Up to 16 channels of state-of-the art 24-bit, 192kHz conversion in one great-sounding 2U package.
  • Choice of 8AD plus 8DA; 16AD; 16DA or D-D only configurations.
  • Dual-path architecture allows independent operation of two 8-channel paths:
    • Each path (bank of 8 channels) can be assigned to either record or play functions;
    • Each path can have independent clock references at different sample rates if desired;
    • Each path is independently configurable;
    • Each path can drive analogue and digital outputs simultaneously if desired
    • Allows Source Monitoring with simultaneous A/D and D/A conversion.
  • Electronically balanced, transformerless, galvanically isolated XLR analogue inputs and outputs ensure freedom from noise pick-up and crosstalk, with software-controlled balance and line-up;
  • Prism Sound 'Over-killer' selectable on analogue inputs: the best-sounding gentle limiting for louder masters - with no 'overs';

Digital Interface Options

  • AES3,S/PDIF up to 192kHz. Handles & converts 2-wire formats for 96k and 192k;
  • FireWire - for direct connection to DAW software on PC or Mac;
  • Pro Tools|HD - replace 192IO/96IOs; up to 32 channels in and out per Digi Core/Process card;
  • Pro Tools|24 MIX - direct connection in place of 888|IO;
  • DSD - for SACD production, with SDIF2/3 and optional MAC-DSD (Cat5); also allows sample-rate-conversion between any PCM rates;

Clocking And Synchronization

  • Ultimate Prism Sound clock-stability and jitter-rejection for crystal-clear imaging, with independent multiple PLLs for A/D and D/A paths;
  • Locks securely to an external reference working stand-alone or with DAWs.
  • 8-channel LED bargraph with peak hold and status monitoring, switchable between paths.

Monitoring and Other Features

  • Stereo monitor, with headphones and analogue line AND digital S/PDIF outputs, can monitor any input or output pair, or a panned stereo mix of all eight channels;
  • Built-in Prism Sound 'SNS' noise-shapers for ultimate quality 16-bit & 20-bit transfers;
  • Built-in Prism Sound 'DRE' for 24-bit performance on 16-bit media WITHOUT losing tracks;
  • Intuitive user interface, provides fast access to all I/O and processing functions; with continuous display of all settings;
  • Noise-shaping, MRX or DRE processing functions can be also be carried out in 'D-D' mode, including conversion between different digital interface formats;
  • Modular construction allows upgrading of all input and output cards (INCLUDING A/D, D/A, and DSP boards); no need to worry about future converter advances or new interface standards;
  • Internet-upgradeable software - loads from your PC or Mac into 'flash' memory inside theADA-8XR;

Physical

  • Dimensions: W: 483mm D: 390mm H: 88mm
  • Power: 90-125/180-250VAC, 50/60Hz, 60W
  • Module slots:
    • 2 x Analogue I/O module slots
    • 2 x Digital I/O module slots
    • Utility slot (monitor, sync,RS232/485/MIDI)
    • 1 x internal DSP expansion slot

Monitor

Analog Outputs

  • Format: Electronically balanced, RCA/phono sockets
  • Output impedance: 50 Ohm
  • Headroom: 0dBFS=+15,+18,+21, or +24dBu
  • Absolute gain accuracy: +/-0.05dB
  • THD+N (997Hz, -1dBFS): -101dB (0.0009%)
  • Dynamic range (997Hz, -60dBFS): 105dB
  • Channel separation 1kHz: >120dB

Headphone Output

  • Format: 6.3mm stereo jack
  • Output impedance: 115 Ohm
  • Max Sensitivity: 4.7Vp-p

Digital Output

  • AES3-ID / S/PDIF, 24bits

Meters

  • 8-ch bargraph with peak hold; 2-channel readout; Assignable ‘Alert’ function
  • Overload indicator threshold: 1 sample full scale or -0.05dBFS

DSP

'Encode' For Digital Outputs

  • Prism Sound Super Noise Shaping (SNS):
    • TPDF dither, plus 4 curve shapes
    • Intelligent ‘auto-dither-defeat’ system
  • Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ bit-mapping:
    • 20-bit/24-bit/hi-rate on 16-bit tracks
    • 24-bit/hi-rate on 20-bit tracks
  • Prism Sound ‘DRE’:
    • 20-bit dynamic range on 16-bit tracks
    • 24-bit dynamic range on 20-bit tracks - without loss of tracks

'Decode' For Digital Inputs

  • Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ bit-mapping: as above

Synchronization

Multi-stage, auto-ranging PLLper Path

  • Ultra-high-precision mode: (+/- 0.15%)
  • Jitter rejection corner frequency: ~80Hz
  • Jitter rejection slope: 60dB / decade
  • Jitter attenuation: >60dB above 700Hz
  • High-precision mode: (+/- 6.0%)
  • Internal: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz +/-25ppm

Each path can be separately synchronized. Path sampling rate can be frequency-locked to a different reference frequency, for example: 96kHz path locked to 48kHz Worldclock.

Prism Sound ADA-8XR (8-A/D, 8-D/A w/F/W)

Details

TheADA-8XRis a multi-channel AD/DA converter that can be configured in numerous ways using plug-in modules to suit a very wide variety of applications. It can be a 16 channel AD converter, a 16 Channel DA converter or an 8 channel AD/DA converter. It can be a multi-channel FireWire interface, or an AES/EBU / AES3 / SPDIF Digital to Analogue or Analogue to Digital converter. It can act as a high resolution Pro Tools Interface for recording or post-production. Similarly it can work with a wide range of other popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) including Logic, Cubase, Nuendo and others. In fact, there's not a lot it can't do when it comes to digital audio conversion.

Applications

TheADA-8XRis the top professionals' converter of choice in the most exacting applications in music and sound recording, mastering, broadcast and post-production. Offering the cleanest and most transparent conversion available, theADA-8XRis ideal for producers, engineers and songwriters wanting to produce top-quality results when recording, tracking & overdubbing, mixing to stereo or surround, mastering and monitoring. TheADA-8XRis perfect for recording vocal, single instruments, drums or orchestra and is just as much at home providing multiple outputs for external analogue summing. It is in use in the top studios around the world as well as being used in numerous film sound tracks.

Design Philosophy

TheADA-8XRtakes the philosophy of the widely-acclaimed Prism Sound converter range a stage further: Now, the goals of ultimate sound quality, unbeatable performance and un-matched versatility have been realised in a modular multi-channel, 24-bit 192kHz-capable format. TheADA-8XRprovides A/D and D/A conversion and the essential digital interfaces with a stereo monitor mix output in digital and analogue formats.

Clocking And Synchronization

Unlike most other converter systems, theADA-8XRis ideal as a master clock for your entire system, whether running from its precision internal reference or from an external source. No external clock source can improve the performance or influence the sound of theADA-8XR. In addition, theADA-8XRcan run in Pro Tools Loop Sync mode, or lock to AES3, AES11 or Wordclock. TheADA-8XRdelivers your recordings with perfect transparency, whatever the setup.

Configuration Options

TheADA-8XRis a modular system and this provides great flexibility when creating systems with larger numbers of channels. Whether you need just a few channels of high-quality conversion or large a multi-track setup, theADA-8XRis the natural choice. Using combinations of the basic system options and the range of digital interfaces you can build the system that perfectly matches your requirements. For more detail see the ADA-8XRConfigurations section.

More Information
Product Name Prism Sound ADA-8XR (8-A/D, 8-D/A w/F/W)
Brand Prism Sound
Condition New
MPN ADA-8XR-FW
Shipping Option Free Shipping to the Continental U.S.
Features

Channel Configurations

  • Up to 16 channels of state-of-the art 24-bit, 192kHz conversion in one great-sounding 2U package.
  • Choice of 8AD plus 8DA; 16AD; 16DA or D-D only configurations.
  • Dual-path architecture allows independent operation of two 8-channel paths:
    • Each path (bank of 8 channels) can be assigned to either record or play functions;
    • Each path can have independent clock references at different sample rates if desired;
    • Each path is independently configurable;
    • Each path can drive analogue and digital outputs simultaneously if desired
    • Allows Source Monitoring with simultaneous A/D and D/A conversion.
  • Electronically balanced, transformerless, galvanically isolated XLR analogue inputs and outputs ensure freedom from noise pick-up and crosstalk, with software-controlled balance and line-up;
  • Prism Sound 'Over-killer' selectable on analogue inputs: the best-sounding gentle limiting for louder masters - with no 'overs';

Digital Interface Options

  • AES3,S/PDIF up to 192kHz. Handles & converts 2-wire formats for 96k and 192k;
  • FireWire - for direct connection to DAW software on PC or Mac;
  • Pro Tools|HD - replace 192IO/96IOs; up to 32 channels in and out per Digi Core/Process card;
  • Pro Tools|24 MIX - direct connection in place of 888|IO;
  • DSD - for SACD production, with SDIF2/3 and optional MAC-DSD (Cat5); also allows sample-rate-conversion between any PCM rates;

Clocking And Synchronization

  • Ultimate Prism Sound clock-stability and jitter-rejection for crystal-clear imaging, with independent multiple PLLs for A/D and D/A paths;
  • Locks securely to an external reference working stand-alone or with DAWs.
  • 8-channel LED bargraph with peak hold and status monitoring, switchable between paths.

Monitoring and Other Features

  • Stereo monitor, with headphones and analogue line AND digital S/PDIF outputs, can monitor any input or output pair, or a panned stereo mix of all eight channels;
  • Built-in Prism Sound 'SNS' noise-shapers for ultimate quality 16-bit & 20-bit transfers;
  • Built-in Prism Sound 'DRE' for 24-bit performance on 16-bit media WITHOUT losing tracks;
  • Intuitive user interface, provides fast access to all I/O and processing functions; with continuous display of all settings;
  • Noise-shaping, MRX or DRE processing functions can be also be carried out in 'D-D' mode, including conversion between different digital interface formats;
  • Modular construction allows upgrading of all input and output cards (INCLUDING A/D, D/A, and DSP boards); no need to worry about future converter advances or new interface standards;
  • Internet-upgradeable software - loads from your PC or Mac into 'flash' memory inside theADA-8XR;
Tech Specs

Physical

  • Dimensions: W: 483mm D: 390mm H: 88mm
  • Power: 90-125/180-250VAC, 50/60Hz, 60W
  • Module slots:
    • 2 x Analogue I/O module slots
    • 2 x Digital I/O module slots
    • Utility slot (monitor, sync,RS232/485/MIDI)
    • 1 x internal DSP expansion slot

Monitor

Analog Outputs

  • Format: Electronically balanced, RCA/phono sockets
  • Output impedance: 50 Ohm
  • Headroom: 0dBFS=+15,+18,+21, or +24dBu
  • Absolute gain accuracy: +/-0.05dB
  • THD+N (997Hz, -1dBFS): -101dB (0.0009%)
  • Dynamic range (997Hz, -60dBFS): 105dB
  • Channel separation 1kHz: >120dB

Headphone Output

  • Format: 6.3mm stereo jack
  • Output impedance: 115 Ohm
  • Max Sensitivity: 4.7Vp-p

Digital Output

  • AES3-ID / S/PDIF, 24bits

Meters

  • 8-ch bargraph with peak hold; 2-channel readout; Assignable ‘Alert’ function
  • Overload indicator threshold: 1 sample full scale or -0.05dBFS

DSP

'Encode' For Digital Outputs

  • Prism Sound Super Noise Shaping (SNS):
    • TPDF dither, plus 4 curve shapes
    • Intelligent ‘auto-dither-defeat’ system
  • Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ bit-mapping:
    • 20-bit/24-bit/hi-rate on 16-bit tracks
    • 24-bit/hi-rate on 20-bit tracks
  • Prism Sound ‘DRE’:
    • 20-bit dynamic range on 16-bit tracks
    • 24-bit dynamic range on 20-bit tracks - without loss of tracks

'Decode' For Digital Inputs

  • Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ bit-mapping: as above

Synchronization

Multi-stage, auto-ranging PLLper Path

  • Ultra-high-precision mode: (+/- 0.15%)
  • Jitter rejection corner frequency: ~80Hz
  • Jitter rejection slope: 60dB / decade
  • Jitter attenuation: >60dB above 700Hz
  • High-precision mode: (+/- 6.0%)
  • Internal: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz +/-25ppm

Each path can be separately synchronized. Path sampling rate can be frequency-locked to a different reference frequency, for example: 96kHz path locked to 48kHz Worldclock.

Reviews